Animal cruelty case resolved

July 9, 2006

By MARY AMES

Frontiersman

PALMER - A Sutton woman facing 69 counts of cruelty to animals pleaded to consolidated charges in an agreement with the Mat-Su Borough Friday morning.

Marcie A. Doppelt, 60, went forward with a non-jury trial in Palmer District Court Thursday, but before the trial could continue Friday, lawyers for both sides settled.

Doppelt pleaded no contest to one count of running a kennel without a license and four counts of cruelty to animals. Doppelt agreed to relinquish ownership of the animals confiscated by the borough: 20 cocker spaniels, six 6-week-old cocker puppies, seven German shepherds, five German shepherd puppies, two springer spaniels, one Dalmatian, one Persian cat, one Canada goose, one peacock, three chickens, two macaws, one Amazon parrot, 3 conures, five cockatiels and one dove. Doppelt also will forfeit ownership of 12 peacocks she removed from her property before the borough could take them.

Doppelt accepted a $1,350 fine, which will go toward the $5,000 she agreed to pay the borough for boarding the animals.

&#8220Our goal was for a healthier, cleaner, safer environment for the animals,” said Nick Spiropoulos, borough attorney. &#8220One of the reasons for 70 counts was every conviction meant a forfeiture of an animal.”

After a former tenant reported a multitude of animals living in filthy conditions, animal care officers went to Doppelt's residence June 23, and returned with warrants to remove the animals June 27. The sheer number of dogs and birds filled the shelter, which already was undergoing renovations. The Sutton animals, covered in dirt and feces, needed to be examined by a veterinarian, bathed and treated for skin and ear infections.

Doppelt, who was allowed to keep four dogs, may exchange them for four at the shelter, as long as they aren't any of the dogs with severe infections or the one that had a fish hook embedded in its fur, Spiropoulos said.

The crowded situation at the animal shelter had been alleviated by people who made room in their homes for adoptable animals, said Dave Allison, chief of animal control.

&#8220We haven't had to euthanize any animals,” Allison said.

&#8220The rescue organizations, Compassion in Action and Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, helped by finding homes for animals that are harder to place.”

Highland Mountain Correctional Center, a bird-rescue organization in Anchorage and people from all over Alaska, Canada and from Outside, including some as far away as Illinois and Louisiana, offered to take animals, Allison said.

&#8220There's been a big community outpouring of people willing to help, willing to shelter,” he said.

The animals removed from Doppelt's acreage aren't ready to leave the shelter yet, but Allison said he hoped they could start adoptions soon.

&#8220They still have medical care, treatment and grooming issues,” he said. &#8220But now we can make them very comfortable.”

The person who took the 12 peacocks for Doppelt will be allowed the first option of adopting them, if qualified, according to the agreement. But Allison said people adopting birds do get special scrutiny.

&#8220We look at their facilities,” he said. &#8220We look at their ability to keep these birds safe and secure. They do fly, and they can be aggressive. You have to be careful with birds.”

Contact Mary Ames at 352-2284 or mary.ames@frontiersman.com.